Yesterday evening after class, one of the instructor of the Flight Operations brought us to the hangar to show us the aircrafts that we gonna fly. We were told that we will be flying DA-40 TDI instead of TB-10. Well well, the instructor also let us sit in the aircraft, let us have a feel on the joystick, moving the ailerons, rudders and elevators.

For your information, ailerons are used for lateral stability (rolling left or right), rudders are for directional stability (yawing left or right) and elevators are for longitudinal stability (pitching up or down.)


This aircraft is a Single Engine propeller aircraft with the engine and propeller's manufacturers are Thielert and MT-3 respectively. The instrument panel is pretty much modern and more powerful than TB-10. It has GPS too! So we still can find our way back if we are lost in the air! =D

Fuel Capacity (Long Range): 41 US Gallons (7hours)
Max Cruising Speed: 133kts
Wing span: 39ft 2in
Length: 26ft 5in
Height: 6ft 6in
Seats: 4
Max Take-off Weight: 1150kg
Fuel Grade: Jet A1/Diesel

The fuel capacity is damn cun. 7Hours! Which means the aircraft can fly straight from lgk to Senai airport without refueling for 5 hours and still have 2 hours of extra fuel! It's very fuel efficient and since the fuel grade being used is diesel, so it's cheaper too! Plus, let say is the the engine fails, the aircraft still can glide with the rate of descent of 600ft/minute compared to TB-10 which has rate of descent of 1300ft/min. The battery capacity can last for 30mins as back-up in case of total generator failure.

The instructor also showed us how to recognize the warning & caution lights and acknowledge them. Then he turned on the receiver radio for us to listen to the radio telephony communication between the control tower and the aircrafts in the vicinity such as request to take-off, landing, taxy, etc. We all took pictures of ourselves in the cockpit of course. Hehehe. It was the first time we enter a cockpit, so it's a MUST to take picture, isn't it?! Hahaha. But then again, no chance to post the picture here online. You know why.


Anyway, I have included a link below about DA-40 TDI for those who wanna know more.

http://www.diamondair.co.uk/pdf/factsheets/DA40TDIfactsheet.pdf


Alternatively, you can surf the Diamond Aircraft official website too at:

http://www.diamondair.com/mainpage.php


Hmmm, we still have not received our airport pass. Without it, we can't start flying. That's the rule. It's not just we have the license, then we can fly. So hopefully before our DCAT exam starts, we will be issued with the pass! Just had my Engines Final Test yesterday and I managed to score 96%. This morning just finished the Theory Of Flight Final Test and then tomorrow will have Electricity Final Test!! With DCAT just around the corner, I am getting more and more excited! I can't wait to finish the test and go flying soon!!!!

Countdown to DCAT: 7 days


Gotta go for lunch now!